So, back to the UN Arms Trade Treaty. First of all the name of the treaty should give you a hint to it's content. It has to with the regulation of arms trade on the international level. So far as I am aware (and feel free to prove me wrong) the UN does not have any authority or ability to regulate the internal laws of a country. The idea that any treaty passed by the UN could circumvent any law in the US much less the COTUS is beyond ludicrous. Any treaty signed by the POTUS must be ratified by 2/3 of the US Senate. Now even
if the UN resolution did affect US ownership of guns and even
if the Senate ratified the treaty that still leaves the little issue of the Supreme Court and
Reid v Covert.
Then there is the fact that there were certain '
key red lines' (why do they keep using that stupid terminology) that would need to be met before the US would agree and sign on to the resolution.
KEY U.S. REDLINES IN THE NEGOTIATIONS
- The Second Amendment to the Constitution must be upheld.
There will be no restrictions on civilian possession or trade of firearms otherwise permitted by law or protected by the U.S. Constitution.
- There will be no dilution or diminishing of sovereign control over issues involving the private acquisition, ownership, or possession of firearms, which must remain matters of domestic law.
[*]The U.S. opposed provisions inconsistent with existing U.S. law or that would unduly interfere with our ability to import, export, or transfer arms in support of our national security and foreign policy interests.
[*]The international arms trade is a legitimate commercial activity, and otherwise lawful commercial trade in arms must not be unduly hindered.
[*]There will be no requirement for reporting on or marking and tracing of ammunition or explosives.
[*]There will be no lowering of current international standards.
[*]Existing nonproliferation and export control regimes must not be undermined.
[*]The ATT negotiations must have consensus decision making to allow us to protect U.S. equities.
[*]There will be no mandate for an international body to enforce an ATT.
If you look at the vote on the resolution it seems the countries that voted against it or abstained were the countries whop have the most to lose by stopping illegal arms trading. Go figure.
MCI, you really need better source on your information. This UN thing was a dud from the word go. Just a bunch of smoke and mirror scare tactics used by groups like the NRA to drive up prices for ammo and gun manufactures here in the US and to increase their membership dues to make a few bucks off the ignorance of the masses.
